AFC Leopards claw Nairobi United to lead FKF Premier League standings
By Joel Masibo, January 7, 2026Resurgent AFC Leopards beat debutants Nairobi United 2-0 to return to the summit of the 2025/26 Football Kenya Federation Premier League standings on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at the Nyayo National Stadium.
A second-half strike from Kelly Madada and an own goal by Michael Karamor in the 20th minute were enough to see Ingwe take control of the league once again with 27 points in 15 matches. The win also saw Leopards dislodge arch rivals Gor Mahia, who have 26 points with two matches at hand.
It was a perfect response from the 1998 champions after suffering a frustrating 1-0 defeat at the hands of Kakamega Homeboyz in their previous outing. While on the other hand, Nairobi United failed to build on their 3-1 win over Shabana FC in their previous league assignments.
Spotlight on Kayci, Ovella
Ahead of the game, attention turned to two standout performers expected to play pivotal roles on either end of the pitch at Nyayo National. The pre-match spotlight fell on former Leoaprds ace Ovella Ochieng for Nairobi United and Kayci Odhiambo for AFC Leopards, whose individual statistics underline their importance to their respective teams this season.
Nairobi United looked to forward Ovella Ochieng to provide attacking spark and goal contributions. In 11 matches played, Ochieng had emerged as the team’s leading contributor in attack, recording 2 goals and an impressive 4 assists.
Beyond direct goal involvement, Ochieng’s influence was evident in his creativity and work rate. He had created 21 chances, the highest for Nairobi United this season, and had attempted 34 shots, highlighting his willingness to take responsibility in the final third.
On the opposite side, AFC Leopards relied heavily on defender Kayci Odhiambo to keep their backline solid. Like his counterpart, Odhiambo had featured in 11 matches, establishing himself as a key defensive presence. He went ahead to score the decisive goal for Ingwe.
His defensive statistics are particularly telling. Before the game, Odhiambo had made 40 clearances, executed 19 interceptions, and registered 9 blocks, topping AFC Leopards’ charts for both interceptions and blocks. In addition to his defensive duties, he boasts an 89% pass accuracy, reflecting composure and efficiency in possession when building play from the back.